NUR 204 HESI LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT VERSION 2 EXAM TEST
BANK ACTUAL 2026/2027 & HIGH YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS
ACCURATE EXAM
1. A nurse manager on a medical-surgical unit consistently invites staff nurses
to participate in scheduling decisions, policy development, and quality-
improvement planning while retaining responsibility for the final decision.
Which leadership style is most clearly demonstrated by this manager?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Laissez-faire leadership
C. Democratic leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: C
2. During an unexpected cardiac arrest, the charge nurse immediately assigns
specific roles, gives concise directions, and expects staff to follow the
directions without extended discussion. Which leadership approach is most
appropriate for this situation?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Democratic leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Servant leadership
Answer: A
3. A nurse leader develops a compelling vision for improving patient-centered
care, empowers nurses to participate in organizational change, and
motivates staff to achieve outcomes beyond minimum expectations. Which
leadership theory best describes these behaviors?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Bureaucratic leadership
C. Autocratic leadership
D. Transformational leadership
Answer: D
pg. 1
, 4. A nurse manager tells staff members that meeting established performance
goals will result in recognition, while failure to meet required standards will
result in corrective action. Which leadership style is being used?
A. Servant leadership
B. Transactional leadership
C. Transformational leadership
D. Democratic leadership
Answer: B
5. A charge nurse is working with an experienced team whose members are
highly competent, motivated, and able to organize their own assignments.
The charge nurse provides minimal direction while remaining available for
consultation. Which leadership style is most consistent with this approach?
A. Autocratic
B. Bureaucratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
Answer: C
6. A newly licensed nurse demonstrates enthusiasm but has limited
experience performing a complex procedure. According to situational
leadership principles, which approach should the nurse manager initially
use?
A. Provide clear direction and close guidance while the nurse develops
competence
B. Allow complete independence so confidence develops quickly
C. Assign the procedure without supervision because motivation is
sufficient
D. Delegate responsibility to another novice nurse
Answer: A
7. A nurse manager recognizes that leadership and management overlap but
are not identical. Which activity most specifically represents a management
responsibility?
pg. 2
, A. Inspiring staff to embrace a new vision
B. Establishing schedules and allocating available resources
C. Motivating staff to exceed organizational expectations
D. Building commitment to professional development
Answer: B
8. A nurse leader notices that a staff member becomes defensive whenever
performance concerns are discussed. The leader first identifies personal
emotional reactions, remains calm, and then responds empathetically to
the nurse. Which competency is being demonstrated?
A. Coercive power
B. Technical authority
C. Bureaucratic leadership
D. Emotional intelligence
Answer: D
9. A nurse manager has no formal authority over a nurse but is widely
respected because of advanced clinical knowledge and expertise in wound
management. Staff members frequently seek this nurse's
recommendations. Which source of power is being demonstrated?
A. Legitimate power
B. Expert power
C. Coercive power
D. Reward power
Answer: B
10. A charge nurse has been assigned the responsibility of enforcing hospital
policies because of the nurse's formal position within the organizational
hierarchy. Which type of power primarily supports this authority?
A. Referent power
B. Expert power
C. Legitimate power
D. Informational power
Answer: C
pg. 3
, 11. A nurse manager wants to improve staff commitment to a new electronic
medication-administration system. Which action is most likely to promote
successful implementation?
A. Involve staff in planning, explain the rationale, and provide education
before implementation
B. Announce the change immediately and discipline employees who
question it
C. Delay implementation until every employee independently supports it
D. Allow each nurse to choose whether to use the new system
Answer: A
12. A nurse leader discovers that staff members are resisting a proposed fall-
prevention protocol because they believe it will increase workload. Which
response best demonstrates effective change leadership?
A. Tell staff that resistance will result in disciplinary action
B. Cancel the project until resistance disappears
C. Ask staff to identify concerns, review evidence, and participate in
developing workable solutions
D. Implement the protocol without explaining its purpose
Answer: C
13. A nurse manager identifies that medication errors have increased over
several months. Before selecting an intervention, the manager examines
staffing patterns, medication processes, communication failures, and
environmental factors. Which management process is being emphasized?
A. Punishment
B. Root-cause analysis
C. Informal counseling
D. Staff replacement
Answer: B
14. A nurse manager wants to determine whether a new hourly rounding policy
has reduced patient falls. Which activity best represents evaluation in the
management process?
pg. 4
BANK ACTUAL 2026/2027 & HIGH YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS
ACCURATE EXAM
1. A nurse manager on a medical-surgical unit consistently invites staff nurses
to participate in scheduling decisions, policy development, and quality-
improvement planning while retaining responsibility for the final decision.
Which leadership style is most clearly demonstrated by this manager?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Laissez-faire leadership
C. Democratic leadership
D. Bureaucratic leadership
Answer: C
2. During an unexpected cardiac arrest, the charge nurse immediately assigns
specific roles, gives concise directions, and expects staff to follow the
directions without extended discussion. Which leadership approach is most
appropriate for this situation?
A. Autocratic leadership
B. Democratic leadership
C. Laissez-faire leadership
D. Servant leadership
Answer: A
3. A nurse leader develops a compelling vision for improving patient-centered
care, empowers nurses to participate in organizational change, and
motivates staff to achieve outcomes beyond minimum expectations. Which
leadership theory best describes these behaviors?
A. Transactional leadership
B. Bureaucratic leadership
C. Autocratic leadership
D. Transformational leadership
Answer: D
pg. 1
, 4. A nurse manager tells staff members that meeting established performance
goals will result in recognition, while failure to meet required standards will
result in corrective action. Which leadership style is being used?
A. Servant leadership
B. Transactional leadership
C. Transformational leadership
D. Democratic leadership
Answer: B
5. A charge nurse is working with an experienced team whose members are
highly competent, motivated, and able to organize their own assignments.
The charge nurse provides minimal direction while remaining available for
consultation. Which leadership style is most consistent with this approach?
A. Autocratic
B. Bureaucratic
C. Laissez-faire
D. Transactional
Answer: C
6. A newly licensed nurse demonstrates enthusiasm but has limited
experience performing a complex procedure. According to situational
leadership principles, which approach should the nurse manager initially
use?
A. Provide clear direction and close guidance while the nurse develops
competence
B. Allow complete independence so confidence develops quickly
C. Assign the procedure without supervision because motivation is
sufficient
D. Delegate responsibility to another novice nurse
Answer: A
7. A nurse manager recognizes that leadership and management overlap but
are not identical. Which activity most specifically represents a management
responsibility?
pg. 2
, A. Inspiring staff to embrace a new vision
B. Establishing schedules and allocating available resources
C. Motivating staff to exceed organizational expectations
D. Building commitment to professional development
Answer: B
8. A nurse leader notices that a staff member becomes defensive whenever
performance concerns are discussed. The leader first identifies personal
emotional reactions, remains calm, and then responds empathetically to
the nurse. Which competency is being demonstrated?
A. Coercive power
B. Technical authority
C. Bureaucratic leadership
D. Emotional intelligence
Answer: D
9. A nurse manager has no formal authority over a nurse but is widely
respected because of advanced clinical knowledge and expertise in wound
management. Staff members frequently seek this nurse's
recommendations. Which source of power is being demonstrated?
A. Legitimate power
B. Expert power
C. Coercive power
D. Reward power
Answer: B
10. A charge nurse has been assigned the responsibility of enforcing hospital
policies because of the nurse's formal position within the organizational
hierarchy. Which type of power primarily supports this authority?
A. Referent power
B. Expert power
C. Legitimate power
D. Informational power
Answer: C
pg. 3
, 11. A nurse manager wants to improve staff commitment to a new electronic
medication-administration system. Which action is most likely to promote
successful implementation?
A. Involve staff in planning, explain the rationale, and provide education
before implementation
B. Announce the change immediately and discipline employees who
question it
C. Delay implementation until every employee independently supports it
D. Allow each nurse to choose whether to use the new system
Answer: A
12. A nurse leader discovers that staff members are resisting a proposed fall-
prevention protocol because they believe it will increase workload. Which
response best demonstrates effective change leadership?
A. Tell staff that resistance will result in disciplinary action
B. Cancel the project until resistance disappears
C. Ask staff to identify concerns, review evidence, and participate in
developing workable solutions
D. Implement the protocol without explaining its purpose
Answer: C
13. A nurse manager identifies that medication errors have increased over
several months. Before selecting an intervention, the manager examines
staffing patterns, medication processes, communication failures, and
environmental factors. Which management process is being emphasized?
A. Punishment
B. Root-cause analysis
C. Informal counseling
D. Staff replacement
Answer: B
14. A nurse manager wants to determine whether a new hourly rounding policy
has reduced patient falls. Which activity best represents evaluation in the
management process?
pg. 4
